IP Library Granted Patent US 11,111,551
Granted Patent B2
US 11,111,551 · App. 17/002,706 · Granted Sep 7, 2021

Hide sorting systems and methods

Inventors: Robert Horst Hein (Kansas City, MO); Kenneth Graham Press (Kansas City, MO)
Assignee: National Beef Packing Company, LLC
C14B17/005B07C5/16B07C5/34B07C5/38B65G57/00B65G57/02C14B1/14C14C1/06C14C3/00C14C3/06C14C15/00G05B19/4189G06Q30/0621G05B2219/39106
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,111,551
App. No.
17/002,706
Granted
Sep 7, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for sorting hides are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning control system that enhances the traceability of hides by capturing and utilizing data related to the unloading, tanning, sorting, and packaging of hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning control system to improve efficiency by sorting hides based, at least in part, on data generated during prior tanning processes. Additionally, one or more embodiments facilitate the tanning control system in customizing the sorting and packaging of hides based, at least in part, on one or more hide characteristics and/or customer specifications.

Claims (53)

1. A method of hide sorting comprising:

accessing a tanning system database to identify a batch identifier associated with a batch;

identifying the batch identifier based on the batch identifier being associated with the batch unloaded from a chroming drum as indicated by the tanning system database, wherein the batch includes a plurality of hides;

determining, using the tanning system database, a batch characteristic associated with the plurality of hides;

determining, using a classifying device, a grade of a hide of the plurality of hides; and

sorting the hide based on the batch characteristic and the grade.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, as user input, the batch identifier;

comparing the batch identifier to batch identifiers stored in the tanning system database;

determining, based on the comparison, the batch identifier does not match any batch identifiers stored in the tanning system database; and

based on the determination that the batch identifier does not match any batch identifiers stored in the tanning system database, providing a notification to a user.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the notification to the user comprises a prompt to re-enter the batch identifier.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising receiving the user input at a measuring system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the batch characteristic comprises a hide type.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising marking the hide with an indication of a hide identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating the batch characteristic with a hide identifier of the hide; and

associating the grade with the hide identifier.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

stacking the hide on a pallet;

identifying a pallet identifier associated with the pallet; and

associating the pallet identifier with a hide identifier.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a customer specification; and

folding the hide according to the customer specification.

10. A method of hide sorting comprising:

accessing a tanning system database to identify a batch identifier associated with a batch;

identifying the batch identifier based on the batch identifier being associated with the batch unloaded from a chroming drum as indicated by the tanning system database, wherein the batch includes a plurality of hides;

determining, using the tanning system database, a batch characteristic associated with the plurality of hides;

determining, using a classifying device, a grade of a hide of the plurality of hides;

moving the hide from a first device to a second device;

moving the hide from the second device to a stacking site selected from a plurality of stacking sites based on the batch characteristic and the grade.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the batch characteristic comprises a hide type.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first device comprises a measuring device and the second device comprises a classifying device.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

identifying a pallet identifier of a pallet located at the stacking site;

stacking the hide onto the pallet;

identifying a hide identifier associated with the hide; and

associating the pallet identifier with the hide identifier.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising moving the pallet to an unloading site common to the plurality of stacking sites.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising marking the pallet with an indication of the pallet identifier.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising folding the hide.

17. A hide sorting system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

a non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the system to:

access a tanning system database to identify a batch identifier associated with a batch;

identify the batch identifier based on the batch identifier being associated with the batch unloaded from a chroming drum as indicated by the tanning system database, wherein the batch includes a plurality of hides;

determine, using the tanning system database, a batch characteristic associated with the plurality of hides;

determine, using a classifying device, a grade of a hide of the plurality of hides; and

sort the hide based on the batch characteristic and the grade.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause the system to:

fold the hide; and

stack the hide.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2025
From: NATIONAL BEEF PACKING COMPANY, LLC
To: COBANK, ACB
Reel/Frame 072645/0740 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2022
From: NATIONAL BEEF PACKING COMPANY, LLC; NATIONAL CARRIERS, INC.; NATIONAL BEEF LEATHERS, LLC; KANSAS CITY STEAK COMPANY, LLC; NATIONAL ELITE TRANSPORTATION, LLC; NATIONAL BEEF OHIO, LLC; IOWA PREMIUM, LLC
To: COBANK, ACB, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 059173/0750 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2020
From: HEIN, ROBERT HORST; PRESS, KENNETH GRAHAM; GLEESON, SHAUN FRANCIS
To: NATIONAL BEEF PACKING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 053595/0166 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16216872 · Dec 11, 2018
Continuation 15390704 · Dec 26, 2016
Continuation 14724547 · May 28, 2015
Provisional Application 62003998 · May 28, 2014
Related Publication 20200385823A1 · Dec 10, 2020